The size of Fruitchat exceeded the maximum database size allowed by our website host. The site has been off-line for the last 6 months because of this. After reading other forums, people have expressed a wish to at least access fruitchat as an archive, so I have managed to re-open the site in read-only mode. This archive will be available for the next couple years, until the hosting contract runs out.

Panorama tonight - FOBT - Why Are Gambling Machines Addictive ? 8.30

Wendy Bendel's partner killed himself after struggling with a 20-year gambling addiction. In a confession he wrote for Wendy, he singled out the high-stakes, high-frequency fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) found in bookmakers across the UK. Wendy embarks on a journey to find out what it is about the design of the machines that makes them so addictive and sees evidence that they can affect the brains of long-term gamblers. She discovers the billions they generate has divided the industry, with former insiders now accusing the bookies of putting profits before people.

Apparently the bookmakers refused to respond, rolled the usual bollocks that the vast majority of gamblers didn't have a problem, and, threatened legal action against Panorama.

Wendy Bendel's partner killed himself after struggling with a 20-year gambling addiction. In a confession he wrote for Wendy, he singled out the high-stakes, high-frequency fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) found in bookmakers across the UK. Wendy embarks on a journey to find out what it is about the design of the machines that makes them so addictive and sees evidence that they can affect the brains of long-term gamblers. She discovers the billions they generate has divided the industry, with former insiders now accusing the bookies of putting profits before people.

Apparently the bookmakers refused to respond, rolled the usual bollocks that the vast majority of gamblers didn't have a problem, and, threatened legal action against Panorama.

Also available on I-player if you miss it.

I'll be watching but it isn't just these FOBT's, the worst gambling available is online and that's in the comfort of your own home. No one seems to have a go at the online casinos! Worse still is that the high street bookies link their brand to online gambling too making it even more difficult to walk away. For example, you win online and go to collect your money in the shops and end up blowing it there or you win in the shop and deposit to the online account in the shop. Bonuses being linked is also dangerous. Bet 20 get 20 in Coral for example.

In all honesty, if there were no bonuses allowed either in shop or online you'd have far fewer people gambling. When they have you hooked you just keep on ploughing that money in trying to earn your next bonus. I speak from vast experience. No doubt my stalker and life judge will come along to this thread at some post now that I've posted this.

are you the same Ruler that retired and stopped posting on the other thread?!

If you could actually READ you'd have noticed that I said I would not post any new threads. When these ones I am currently posting on have gone quiet I may reactivate one of my old accounts such as MoG. Or I'll just ignore you all because you're mostly hostile towards me.

I am amazed at the level of attention I get on here. If only you were the girl in the pic, Bubbles, I'd actually want it!

Sadly though, I have 2 male trolls/stalkers and 1 life judge. Assuming topcat is male...

I won't be making any effort. No one on here is worth it. Or female. Therefore I'll just use MoG and on the odd occasion Electrocoinist. At least everyone knows they are all the same guy they love to hate on!

I am a male. Stalking you? Not really, you offered me a challenge ( see previous posts), you then loosely threatened to pack in the game - after promptly returning like a boomerang. If your bored I can take you speed dating around Ealing, or you can hang around the asian hotties in some of the West London bookies.
I only created this account to hold your hand whilst you emplore/ make up the latest trick.

Have you considered online dating, they love a tail on there. Good luck though seriously !!!!!

I am a male. Stalking you? Not really, you offered me a challenge ( see previous posts), you then loosely threatened to pack in the game - after promptly returning like a boomerang. If your bored I can take you speed dating around Ealing, or you can hang around the asian hotties in some of the West London bookies.
I only created this account to hold your hand whilst you emplore/ make up the latest trick.

Have you considered online dating, they love a tail on there. Good luck though seriously !!!!!

You're gay then and I'm not.

I'm not dating, I'm married!

Find someone else to stalk or go dating yourself. And just for your information, a hot girl can be any race but I couldn't care less - they're all just headfuck - rather like you!

And finally, I'm old and senile so I don't remember any challenge. However I do challenge you to play the shutting up game - you go first!

I'll try to be totally serious about watching this programme. I did watch it with interest, the lady lost her husband.... don't know how close they were but I find it hard to believe it was a very loving or intimate relationship. In other words, if it was me and I was very close to my wife I would have told her about it and never gone for topping myself. It seems like she's trying to relieve herself of guilt by being in this thing, finding out what she should have known before he killed himself.

The way they presented this was trying to make the bookies out to the be the evil, sadistic and greedy ones. I don't believe the betting shops are trying to manipulate anyone, it is just as they say about a tiny % of people just get completely hooked on gambling when they try it.

I thought the whole thing was far too vague and should have been at least 3 times longer to really get into the subject rather than just stab in the dark at the bookies. It was over far too quickly and I thought the roulette test was particularly dumb as it was never real money he was playing with, nor did the human guinea pig believe it was.

At the end of the day, the bookies have found a way to make money and wish to make as much as possible. They don't drag people in to their shops or force them to play. In any other industry, expansion would be praised. No one in their right mind expects to walk into a bookies, play a random game and fully expect to win.

I think these machines should either stay or get banned forever. There is no point in further legislature, it won't help anyone.

Now let's hope the stalkers and Lord Life Judge can either stay on topic or shut up and let others make some serious points.